Non Downey and Possible Downey Bookplates and Engravings
This website was created to show the prints of bookplates and other works which were accumulated by my past family. The Downey engravers have been around since the 1780’s, but the early Downeys left no lists of their work. The only lists found were for Alfred James Downey (1882-1944). The prints shown here were either engraved by a Downey with no indication of which one or were done by non-family engravers. These would have been swopped with other engravers for them to sell on to their own clients.
Some of these have already been sold (eg Nelson and most of the Hopsons). If you have any knowledge of or know the year the works were made or the identity of the designer/engraver then please let me know by emailing me at
The known Downeys have not been included here as they are shown in the book “The Downey Engravers” by Richard Downey.
Once you are into the website you will be able to review the bookplate images, usually in four columns and up to six rows.
Clicking on any image will provide a pop up widow of a larger image of the bookplate.
In the top left hand corner is a symbol similar to the image shown here to the right, 
and clicking on this will enlarge the image even more.
By holding down the left click button and dragging the image around the screen you will be able to see the image in a high level of detail.
You can scroll through the images by clicking on the arrows at each side and in the middle.
In the bottom left-hand corner of each image are two arrows which can also move to the next image. Below this is shown the name and number sequence.
To return to the main screen, just press the Esc key or click on the X at the lower left-hand side.
The “Box Card” items refer to proofs and prints kept by Alfred Dyer Downey’s daughter and which contained over 40% by known engravers (of which 24% were Downeys). The remainder are possible Downeys and most likely came down the line of three sons of William Henry Downey, being Thomas Edward D, Alfred Dyer D and Charles James D. These three worked in the same studios at various times. The other two sons were William Bedford D who worked for Bradbury Wilkinson on the banknote side and Henry Francis D, who did bookplates.